This week at the movies, we’ve got fairy tale swashbuckling (“Jack the Giant Slayer,”, starring Nicholas Hoult and Ewan McGregor), submarine suspense (“Phantom,” starring Ed Harris and David Duchovny), excessive partying (“21 And Over,” starring Miles Teller and Skylar Astin), and devilish doings (“The Last Exorcism Part II,” starring Ashley Bell and Spencer Treat Clark). Find out what the critics have to say on Rotten Tomatoes.

“Jack the Giant Slayer”

With all the fairy tale adaptations Hollywood’s been cranking out lately, “Jack and the Beanstalk” seems particularly ripe for a big-budget adaptation. And critics say that while “Jack the Giant Slayer” is often more stylish than substantial, it’s a briskly paced, occasionally thrilling take on a classic tale. After unintentionally opening a portal to another world, Jack (Nicholas Hoult) fights to defend the earth from a group of giants who are attempting to reclaim their former realm. “Jack the Giant Slayer” is currently at 56 percent on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer; check out some of the reviews here:

Fresh: “‘Jack the Giant Slayer’ is the kind of old-fashioned, entertaining fantasy-adventure you once saw regularly in theaters.” — Rafer Guzman, Newsday

Rotten: “Jack’s problem is that he’s a commoner, but the movie’s problem is that its script is commoner still, an enchantment-free pretext for animated action, straight-ahead storytelling and ersatz romance.” — Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

“Das Boot.” “The Hunt for Red October.” “Crimson Tide.” There are plenty of good thrillers set on board submarines, but unfortunately, critics say the well-acted but poorly-scripted “Phantom” is unlikely to join their ranks. Ed Harris stars as the captain of a Soviet sub on a secret mission. However, several of the crew members, led by Bruni (David Duchovny), are planning to take over the ship and escalate conflict with the U.S. “Phantom” is currently at 17 percent on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer; here’s what some of the critics are saying:

Rotten: “As one might expect from a submarine drama, ‘Phantom’ is claustrophobic and confining. If only it were compelling.” — Claudia Puig, USA Today

Rotten: “Ed Harris in ‘Phantom’ is like Steve Carlton with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1972 — delivering a wall-to-wall, amazing performance that’s lost in a sea of dreadfulness.” — Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times

Fresh: “As far as such potboilers go, ‘Phantom’ is literate, tense and, thankfully, modest.” — Michael Atkinson, Time Out New York

“21 And Over”

If the premise of “21 and Over” — three dudes party and go on wild adventures unill somebody blacks out — sounds a lot like “The Hangover,” well, that’s because it shares screenwriters. What it doesn’t share, say critics, are a steady stream of laughs. Jeff (Justin Chon) is turning 21, but has an important interview the next day. But his two buddies (Miles Teller and Skylar Astin) demand they hit the town; intoxication and hilarity ensue. “21 And Over” is currently at 29 percent on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer; here are some of the reviews:

Rotten: “[The film] condenses the familiarity of so many other party-hearty romps into 93 harried minutes.” — William Goss, Film.com

Fresh: “Writer-directors Jon Lucas and Scott Moore find a nice balance between the over-the-top high jinks and an emotional core, which unexpectedly crystallizes relatively late in the movie.” — Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle

“The Last Exorcism Part II”

Perhaps the studio behind “The Last Exorcism Part II” were afraid their film was less than bewitching, since it wasn’t screened prior to its release. Following the events of the previous film, Nell Sweetzer (Ashley Bell) survived is found alive with no recollection of what became of her family. Soon, she’s once again possessed by a demonic spirit. Check back with Rotten Tomatoes for reviews when they become available.

About Speakeasy

Speakeasy is a blog covering media, entertainment, celebrity and the arts. The publication is produced by Barbara Chai and Jonathan Welsh with contributions from the Wall Street Journal staff and others. Write to us at speakeasy@wsj.com or follow us on Twitter at @WSJSpeakeasy or individually @barbarachai.